* Ode to Dewey

This very thoughtful critique exudes the ideals of John Dewey, who is not someone ordinarily associated with Hannah Arendt. Thank you so much for showing that connection. Sadly, the impulse of many faculty to create courses in order to make sure their students appreciate diversity, become environmental activist, or learn to think critically can similarly sabotage a key educational goal -- helping students learn to think for themselves. All it takes is a textbook, workbooks, and exams to convert an effort to strengthen intellectual skills into an obligatory ingestion of "past products."